Sources: Miss. St. to turn to DC Arnett as coach
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Pete ThamelESPN
Mississippi State has agreed to terms to promote defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. He will replace Mike Leach, who died Monday night.
Arnett agreed to a four-year deal that has yet to be signed but is expected to be formalized in the upcoming days, sources said.
The move was made quickly in the aftermath of Leach’s death as a way to stabilize the program and keep the on-field momentum going after Mississippi State finished 8-4 this season.
“The school wants to give the players a strong leader to help them through the grieving process and give them stability,” a source told ESPN. “Zach is the guy for that. Zach embodies MSU and understands it, and he’s going to build on the foundation that Coach Leach set.”
Arnett has spent three seasons as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator, bringing a successful 3-3-5 scheme that has proven difficult to face in the SEC. The unit finished No. 39 nationally in total defense this year, an impressive number considering how offense-centric State’s program is running Leach’s famed Air Raid offense.
Arnett had immediate success his first two seasons in Starkville, as his aggressive defense finished in the top five in the SEC in total defense both years. He stayed loyal to Leach and Mississippi State when wealthier schools courted him in recent seasons, a loyalty that’s been reciprocated.
Arnett’s leadership through the tidal wave of emotions that have come from Leach’s hospitalization and death also have impressed. His message to the team has been consistent in upholding the standard that Leach set for the program.
State will play Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2, which will mark Arnett’s head-coaching debut.
“He’s been a leader in our program,” a source said. “He’s a guy that players on both sides of the ball respect. He has stepped up and led this team through this adversity, making sure that we continue to finish this season the way we started, and the way coach Leach always expected.”
The continuity is expected to allow Mississippi State to keep together a strong core of players that shined on defense this year. The program’s two leading tacklers, Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson, have both said they will return to school. Watson was the SEC’s leading tackler (108).
Starting defensive linemen Jaden Crumedy, Jordan Davis and Nathan Pickering all also have stated publicly that they’ll return next year. That should give Arnett an experienced corps of talented returners and help them keep a strong defensive identity for next season.
Arnett also has proven a stout defensive recruiter, as Miami transfer Khamauri Rogers committed to MSU earlier Wednesday.
Arnett is a New Mexico graduate, where he originally committed to play baseball before earning a football scholarship and starring in its 3-3-5 defense. He coached under Rocky Long, the modern godfather of the 3-3-5 defense at San Diego State, starting as a graduate assistant there and working his way up to assistant coach and eventually defensive coordinator.
Beyond his schematic background, Arnett earned the State job because of his presence in the program. That leadership was especially needed this week.
“The way he addressed the team, he was unbelievable,” a source said, referencing the meeting to announce Leach was taken to the hospital. “The way he stepped up, it was like you were listening to the head coach talk to his team. He reminded everyone of all the things we’ve been through and what Coach Leach always demanded and expected. He shares those same expectations.”
Also Wednesday, Mississippi State announced that it will hold a public memorial service Tuesday honoring the life of Leach at Humphrey Coliseum.
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Dan Wetzel
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Dan Wetzel
ESPN
- Dan Wetzel is a senior writer focused on investigative reporting, news analysis and feature storytelling.
Sherrone Moore was in custody in the Washtenaw (Michigan) County Jail on Wednesday night as a suspect in an alleged assault, just hours after he was fired as Michigan’s football coach for having what the school said was an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Moore was initially detained by police in Saline, Michigan, on Wednesday and turned over to authorities in Pittsfield Township “for investigation into potential charges.”
Pittsfield police released a statement Wednesday night saying they responded at 4:10 p.m. to the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road “for the purposes of investigating an alleged assault. … A suspect in this case was taken into custody. This incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community.
“The suspect was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor,” the statement continued. “At this time, the investigation is ongoing. Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details.”
Pittsfield police did not name the suspect in its statement.
Earlier, Saline police stated they “assisted in locating and detaining former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Mr. Moore was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation into potential charges.”
Michigan fired Moore on Wednesday following an investigation into his conduct with a staff member.
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” the school said in a statement. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Moore, 39, spent two seasons as Michigan’s coach, after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves signed veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal Wednesday that includes a club option for 2028.
The 35-year-old Yastrzemski hit .233 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 146 games last year between San Francisco and Kansas City.
Yastrzemski, who spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the Giants before being sent to the Royals in July, will make $9 million in 2026 and $10 million in 2027. Atlanta holds a club option for 2028. Yastrzemski will make $7 million if the Braves pick up the option. He will receive a $4 million buyout if they do not.
The versatile Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, can play all three outfield positions and is a career .238 hitter. His best season came in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, when he batted .297 with 10 homers in 54 games and finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.
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Jorge Castillo
ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Yankees made their first selection in a Rule 5 draft since 2011 on Wednesday, taking right-hander Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Winquest was one of 13 players — and 12 right-handed pitchers — chosen in the major league portion of the draft.
The Rockies took RJ Petit, a 6-foot-8 reliever, with the first pick from the Detroit Tigers. Petit, 26, had a 2.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances and two starts between Double A and Triple A last season. The Minnesota Twins chose the only position player, selecting catcher Daniel Susac from the Athletics.
Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player and must keep him on the active major league roster for the entire following season unless he lands on the injured list. Players taken off the roster must be offered back to the former club for $50,000.
The 25-year-old Winquest recorded a 4.58 ERA with a 48% groundball rate in 106 innings across 25 games, including 23 starts, between Single A and Double A last season. He features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph plus a curveball, cutter and sweeper. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen next season.
Right-hander Brad Meyers was the last player the Yankees had chosen in a Rule 5 draft. He suffered a right shoulder injury in spring training and was on the injured list for the entire 2012 season before he was offered back to the Washington Nationals. He never appeared in a major league game.
Also picked were right-hander Jedixson Paez (Colorado from Boston), right-hander Griff McGarry (Washington from Philadelphia), catcher Carter Baumler (Pittsburgh from Baltimore), right-hander Ryan Watson (Athletics from San Francisco), right-hander Matthew Pushard (St. Louis from Miami), right-hander Roddery Munoz (Houston from Cincinnati), right-hander Peyton Pallette (Cleveland from Chicago White Sox), right-hander Spencer Miles (Toronto from San Francisco), right-hander Zach McCambley (Philadelphia from Miami) and right-hander Alexander Alberto (White Sox from Tampa Bay).
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